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2021 Supreme(Raj) 800

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Sandeep Mehta, J.
Kaushik @ Komal Acharya - Appellant
Versus
State Of Rajasthan - Respondent
Criminal Revision Petition No. 93 of 2021
Decided on : 06-07-2021

Advocates appeared:
N.K. Bohra, Advocate, Anda Ram Choudhary, Advocate

The main legal point established was that in cases of abetment of suicide, there must be reliable prima facie evidence to establish the accused's instigation or abetment, which was lacking in this case.

Headnote:

306 IPC - Charge Framing - Summary

Fact of the Case:

The case involved the alleged suicide of a girl due to pressure from her family to marry someone other than her lover. The petitioner was charged under Section 306 IPC for abetting the suicide.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that there was no reliable evidence to establish that the petitioner instigated or abetted the girl's suicide. The charge framing order was quashed, and the petitioner was discharged from the charge.

Issues: The key issue was whether the petitioner could be held responsible for the suicide of the girl due to the pressure from her family to marry someone else.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that there was no prima facie material or evidence to support the charge against the petitioner for abetting the suicide. The evidence did not establish that the petitioner instigated the suicide.

Final Decision: The impugned order framing charge against the petitioner under Section 306 IPC was quashed, and the petitioner was discharged from the charge.

JUDGMENT

Sandeep Mehta, J. - The instant revision has been preferred by the petitioner herein for assailing the order dated 07.01.2021 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Woman Atrocities Cases), Jodhpur in Sessions Case No.12/2020, whereby the learned trial court, directed framing of charge against the petitioner herein for the offence punishable under Section 306 IPC.

2. No one has appeared to oppose this revision on behalf of the respondent No.2-complainant despite service of notice.

3. Briefly stated, facts relevant and essential for disposal of the revision are noted herein-below.

4. The respondent No.2 Chhagan Lal submitted a written report to the SHO, Police Station Pratap Nagar, Jodhpur on 02.04.2019 alleging inter alia that in the previous night, 3-4 miscreants came to his house and threatened his daughter and family members that if Guddi (deceased) was not betrothed to Komal (the petitioner herein), and was married off somewhere else, then the entire family of the complainant would be destroyed. The complainant alleged that his daughter Guddi's marriage was scheduled to be solemnized on 16.04.2019. He and his wife had gone to Basni for making preparations. About 09.00- 09.15 p.m. he received a call from his home informing that Guddi had bolted the door from inside and after 3-4 persons had come there and had given threats. The complainant reached home in 15-20 minutes. The neighbours also came there. The door was broken down and his daughter was taken to the MDM Hospital, Jodhpur, where doctors declared her dead. He alleged that the miscreants were threatening his family members. He had personally met Komal's parents and had requested them to refrain their son, but rather than paying heed to the complainant's pleas, Komal's parents threatened that if he married his daughter somewhere else, consequences would be severe. The complainant further alleged that he had not disclosed the schedule of his daughter's marriage, which was to take place on 16.04.2019, even to his family members fearing that the miscreants would malign his image in the society and could jeopardize the marriage. He further alleged that Komal and his family members, to be specific, his brother-in-law, had instigated his daughter to commit suicide.

5. On the basis of this report FIR No.183/2019 came to be registered at the Police Station Pratap Nagar, Jodhpur for the offence under Section 306 IPC. During the course of investigation, autopsy was carried out on the body of the victim Guddi at the MDM, Hospital, Jodhpur and the medical board opined that the cause of death of the girl was antemortem hanging.

6. The Investigating Officer recorded statement of one Dhanraj Soni, who stated that the complainant and his family members used to reside in a rented portion of his (Dhanraj's) house at Acharya Colony, Chandna Bhakhar, Jodhpur. On 01.04.2019, he (Dhanraj) was strolling in the park outside his house. At about 09.30 p.m., four persons came there and asked for Chhagan Lal and then they told him that something untoward had happened in the house of Chhagan Lal. However, Dhanraj did not identify these persons.

7. Guddi's brother Prem Prakash stated that he and his two sisters were at home on the fateful night. His parents had gone out to do shopping for the marriage. Four boys came around and asked Guddi about their parents. She feigned ignorance, on which these boys stated that they would forcibly abduct her and marry her to a boy named Komal, on which, his sister went inside the house and the four boys also went away. On the same night, Guddi ended her life by hanging herself.

8. Deepu, sister of the deceased, stated that cards of her sister Guddi's marriage had been printed and the marriage was scheduled to be solemnized on 16.04.2019. On 01.04.2019, their parents had gone to Basni to make purchases for the wedding. She, her brother and sister were standing outside the house. At about 09.00 p.m., four boys came there and told Guddi that she would h

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